Accident while emptying catch from dredges on scallop dredger Wanderer II with 1 person injured

Location: 1 mile south-east of Wiay Island, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

Accident Investigation Report 6/2015

Investigation report into marine accident including what happened, actions taken and recommendations made:

MAIB investigation report 6-2015: Wanderer II

Photograph of fishing vessel Wanderer II

Summary

On 19 November 2013 a crew member on board the scallop dredger Wanderer II sustained a serious injury. The casualty’s hand became trapped between the rope and the winch whipping (warping) drum as he attempted to use it to empty catch from the dredges. The casualty had neither experience nor training in using winch whipping drums and the recently joined skipper was unaware of his competence.

Safety lessons

  • the injured man was untrained in the use of whipping drums and that the vessel’s owner, who was also the boat’s regular skipper, had not fully informed the relief skipper about the crew’s experience and competency

  • there is a lack of specific guidance or advice on the safe operation of deck machinery used on fishing vessels

Recommendations

Recommendations have been made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (2015/109 and 2015/110) and the Fishing Industry Safety Group (2015/111) designed to improve guidance on the safe operation of winches and other deck machinery.

Recommendations (2015/112 and 2015/113) have been made to Wanderer II’s owner aimed at further improving the safety of winch operations on board.

Updates to this page

Published 12 February 2015